After the Persians arrived at the pass, several days crept by without battle beginning. Xerxes sent a scout to find out what the Greek position was. The scout returned to the king, who was amazed by what he heard. In front of a wall that blocked the pass the 300 Spartans were combing their hair and exercising. However, the king was warned not to misread this information: the Spartans were preparing to fight to the death and were men of great bravery.